Mail-crane



'(No Model.)

E. L. PEIRGE.

MAIL CRANE.

o. 552,773. Patented. Jan. 7, 1896.

WITNESSES."

ATTORNEYS.

IAN DRDN EGRANANL PNOTO-UTMLWASHI NESTDN. DE

NITED STATES rrrcn.

MAIL-GRAN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,773, dated January '7, 1896.

Application filed November '7, 1895. Serial No. 568,202. (No model.)

To (all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERASTUS L. PEIRCE, of Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented a new and Improved Mail-Crane, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a mail-crane which shall not require a platform for the mail-carrier to stand on while adjusting the pouch, therebyprovidin g a better and more economical crane than those ordinarily employed, and the improved crane will also remove a source of danger to passengers and employs on passing trains, which the ordinary mail-crane frequently occasions by reason of the closeness of the platform to the track.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which is represented a side elevation of the improved crane, illustrating the position of the crane in positive lines in holding a bag and its position in dotted lines after the bag has been disconnected from the crane.

In carrying out the invention an upright post A is employed, such as is used in mailcranes, and which may be made of wood or of other material and of a pattern to conform to any standard desired. In connection with the upright or post A an upper arm B is employed, together with a lower arm 0. These arms may be made of any desired material, and the upper arm ]3 is pivoted by means of a pin 11 located between its center and inner end, the inner end portion of the said upper arm extending rearwardly from the post, and the rear extremity of the aforesaid arm B is preferably carried downward a predetermined distance to form abearing for the upper end of a rod 12, the rear extension of the aforesaid upper arm being designated as 11.

The lower arm 0 is pivoted by means of a pin 10 to the aforesaid post or upright A, and at the inner end of the lower arm 0 the said arm is carried downward at an angle to its body, forming an extension 0, whereby the lower arm is virtually an angle-lever, and the extremity of the extension 0' of the lower arm is carried rearward to form a pivotal bearing for the lower end of the aforesaid rod 12.. This rod 12, when the two arms are parallel or in horizontal position, extends diagonally from one arm to the other, and is at an angle to the post or upright, and likewise at an angle to the pivots of the aforesaid arms. The mail-bag 13 is of the ordinary construction and is adapted to be attached to the forward or outer ends of both of the arms B and O by means of loops 14, or in any other manner required by the regulations of the Post-Office Department.

The operation is substantially as follows: \Vhen the arms are down, as shown in dotted lines in the drawing, the lower end of the upper arm B is near enough to the ground so that the mail sack may be hung thereon or attached thereto, after which the lower arm 0 is raised to a horizontal position, which action, by drawing downward on the connectin g-rod 12, will raise the upper arm B together with the mail-sack, and when the lower arm 0 is raised high enough it is attached to the bottom of the sack.

It will be seen that in the operation of this mail-crane in raising the sack the draft of the connecting-rod 12 will be nearly at right angles to the rear end of the lower arm 0, 0r obliquely to the rear end of the upper arm 13. Therefore the upper arm B will move up faster than the lower arm 0 at the first portion of the operation, but at a point about midway in the operation the two arms will move at nearly equal speed, and during the latter half of the movement the lower arm C will move faster than the upper arm B, and will again become parallel with it, whereupon the sack can be fastened to the lower arm, and when so fastened the mail-sack serves to hold the arms in their parallel or horizontal position.

In order to provide for the dropping movement of the arms, the mail-sack must be re moved in the ordinary way, and the lower arm 0 must drop faster than the upper arm B, which action will take place the momentthe mail-sack is disengaged from both of the arms.

When the mail-sack is removed, the upper arm will drop downward substantially parallel with the post or standard A and at one IOO side of the same, while the lower arm 0 will drop in a corresponding manner, it being understood that preferably the two arms are in engagement with one side only of the post or standard A.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination with an upright or post, of a substantially straight arm, pivotally connected between its center and rear end with the said upright or post, an angular arm pivotally connected at the junction of its members with the post and below the upper arm, and a connecting rod uniting the rear extremities of the two arms, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a mail crane, the combination, with an upright or post, of an upper arm pivoted between its center and rear end upon the aforesaid post, a lower arm of angular construction, its rear memberbeing shorter than its forward member, and the said rear arm be ing pivoted at the junction of its two members to the post, and a rod connecting the rear eX- tremities of the two arms, the said arms being adapted to be held in a horizontal or parallel position by the attachment to both of the arms of a mail pouch, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a mail crane, the combination, with an upright or post, of an upper substantially straight arm, pivotally connected between its center and rear end with the post or upright, the rear end of the said arm extending rearwardly beyond the post and downwardly a suitable distance, a lower arm likewise pivotally connected with the post, the said lower arm beingof angular construction, its rear member being shorter than its forward member and the pivot being located at the junction of the two members, the said shorter member being substantially upwardly inclined at its extremity, a connecting rod pivotally connected with the rear terminals of the two arms, and means, substantially as shown and described, for connecting the mail pouch with the forward ends of both of the aforesaid arms, as and for the purpose specified, whereby the mail pouch when connected with the two arms will hold them in a hori zontal position, and when the pouch is disconnected from the arms the said arms will drop to a substantially vertical position, as and for the purpose specified.

I ERASTUS L. PEIRCE. \Vitnesses:

A. E. SMEET,

EARL V. CASE. 

